Do Dogs Need Fiber?
Dogs need many of the same nutrients that humans do. One of those nutrients is fiber. While fiber is not considered one of the essential nutrients for dogs, it does play a large role in the dog’s health as it helps with weight management, diarrhoea, constipation, colon health and diabetes mellitus.
It is not necessary to go out and buy special high fiber dog food as nearly all commercial dog foods have a relatively high fiber content due to the large amount of grains used in the production process.
Fiber is described as “insoluble carbohydrates that resist enzymatic digestion in the small intestine.” Fibers are found in the cell walls of plants and grains and almost all sources of carbohydrates. The main sources of fiber in commercial dog foods include pectin; beet pulp; rice, soybean and peanut hulls; bran; and corn and corn by-products.
Good bacteria in the intestine can “ferment” some of the fiber into fatty acids. These acids aid in preventing the growth of harmful bacteria, as well as helping the cells of the colon recover from injury. Research also suggests that these fatty acids from the fiber can help reduce the risks of your dog developing colon cancer.
Should you be one of those people who choose to take the time and effort to make food for your dogs yourself, it is possible for you to use fiber to manage your dog’s weight. When you add extra fiber to the food, thus creating high fibre dog food, your dog can slowly lose weight. The amount of fibre will cause your dog to feel full, while ingesting fewer calories.
A diet with large amounts of fiber for dogs is recommended if your dog suffers from diabetes mellitus. The fiber helps the sugar levels of these dogs stabilise, making it easier and simpler to keep the disease in control, and making things less stressful for both the dog and the owner. High fiber diets have become a standard part of the treatment for dogs with diabetes.
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